Why every Cardiff City fan should be excited about the new attacking weapon who could be unleashed against Birmingham

By Dominic Booth

Tuesday 10th October 2017

An illuminating stat emerged last week that perhaps indicates how Cardiff City's squad will be tested over the next 35 games.

Despite the fact Cardiff added considerable depth in the summer, only Millwall have used fewer players than the Bluebirds in the Championship this season.

Neil Warnock, who brought 10 players to the Welsh capital in the summer window, has used just 20 in Cardff's 11 matches.

But one player who hasn't featured this season — who could yet make a serious impact — is Callum Paterson.

The Scottish full-back was heralded as a superb Bosman signing from Hearts in the summer but has been — until recently — sitting on the treatment table waiting patiently for his chance and working hard on his own injury recovery.

Lee Peltier has been the man in possession of the Cardiff right-back shirt, but Paterson is a more naturally attacking player in the position who could feasibly add a new dimension to Warnock's side.

He certainly has the ability, if not the recent form, to fall back on.

A cruciate ligament injury suffered by the Scotland international last season has kept him out of first team action since Hearts' 4-0 win over Kilmarnock on December 27 last year.

Yet Paterson's displays for Cardiff's Under-23s in recent weeks suggest he is finally ready to step up again.

He played his first 90 minutes in nine months at the end of September and on Monday night, while Cardiff City Stadium was playing host to a vital Wales versus Ireland World Cup qualifier , Paterson struck a first ever career hat-trick up in Lancashire.

It helped the Under-23s secure a 3-3 draw with Blackburn Rovers, but more significantly indicated that the 22-year-old is more than ready. His inclusion is now a matter of 'when' rather than 'if'.

He could even make his Cardiff debut against Birmingham this weekend on his 23rd birthday. The Bluebirds head to St Andrews knowing that a win would extent their lead at the Championship's summit to four points.

Paterson's performance for the Under-23s also signalled the continuation of a trend that should make Cardiff fans very excited about his return.

He clocked up 33 goals in 137 league appearances during his time at Tynecastle, including nine in 25 games in the 2016/17 season. That's some record for a right-back who played only half a season.

So Paterson, who was talked up by pundits, managers and fellow players when making the move to Cardiff, could finally enter the Warnock revolution on Friday night from the bench or perhaps even from the start.

And with the Bluebirds sitting top of the Championship even without his goal scoring prowess and attacking verve from full-back, it's quite something to think how strong they could be with the Scotsman in tow and in form.

It would be harsh on the ever-reliable Peltier, but if there's been one nagging criticism of Cardiff this season it has been that their full-backs don't always overlap and offer support for wingers Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Paterson could change all that and help the Bluebirds reach another gear.

Neil Warnocks: " New attacking weapon "

Forever Blue wrote:Why every Cardiff City fan should be excited about the new attacking weapon who could be unleashed against Birmingham

By Dominic Booth

Tuesday 10th October 2017

An illuminating stat emerged last week that perhaps indicates how Cardiff City's squad will be tested over the next 35 games.

Despite the fact Cardiff added considerable depth in the summer, only Millwall have used fewer players than the Bluebirds in the Championship this season.

Neil Warnock, who brought 10 players to the Welsh capital in the summer window, has used just 20 in Cardff's 11 matches.

But one player who hasn't featured this season — who could yet make a serious impact — is Callum Paterson.

The Scottish full-back was heralded as a superb Bosman signing from Hearts in the summer but has been — until recently — sitting on the treatment table waiting patiently for his chance and working hard on his own injury recovery.

Lee Peltier has been the man in possession of the Cardiff right-back shirt, but Paterson is a more naturally attacking player in the position who could feasibly add a new dimension to Warnock's side.

He certainly has the ability, if not the recent form, to fall back on.

A cruciate ligament injury suffered by the Scotland international last season has kept him out of first team action since Hearts' 4-0 win over Kilmarnock on December 27 last year.

Yet Paterson's displays for Cardiff's Under-23s in recent weeks suggest he is finally ready to step up again.

He played his first 90 minutes in nine months at the end of September and on Monday night, while Cardiff City Stadium was playing host to a vital Wales versus Ireland World Cup qualifier , Paterson struck a first ever career hat-trick up in Lancashire.

It helped the Under-23s secure a 3-3 draw with Blackburn Rovers, but more significantly indicated that the 22-year-old is more than ready. His inclusion is now a matter of 'when' rather than 'if'.

He could even make his Cardiff debut against Birmingham this weekend on his 23rd birthday. The Bluebirds head to St Andrews knowing that a win would extent their lead at the Championship's summit to four points.

Paterson's performance for the Under-23s also signalled the continuation of a trend that should make Cardiff fans very excited about his return.

He clocked up 33 goals in 137 league appearances during his time at Tynecastle, including nine in 25 games in the 2016/17 season. That's some record for a right-back who played only half a season.

So Paterson, who was talked up by pundits, managers and fellow players when making the move to Cardiff, could finally enter the Warnock revolution on Friday night from the bench or perhaps even from the start.

And with the Bluebirds sitting top of the Championship even without his goal scoring prowess and attacking verve from full-back, it's quite something to think how strong they could be with the Scotsman in tow and in form.

It would be harsh on the ever-reliable Peltier, but if there's been one nagging criticism of Cardiff this season it has been that their full-backs don't always overlap and offer support for wingers Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Paterson could change all that and help the Bluebirds reach another gear.

Looking forward to him playing, I feel it will be a few weeks yet though, no need to rush him back when we are playing well and top of the League and the fullbacks have just had a couple of weeks rest !!!

Would like to see him thrown in straight away if he is fit..Heard nothing but good things about this guy and it one thing we haven't had for years a proper attacking full back. Big dilemma for Warnock as Peltier is a 7/10 virtually every game

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